Nigeria Reaffirms WTO Commitment at BRICS Summit

During the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India, on an unspecified date, Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima reaffirmed the country's commitment to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the multilateral trading system. He stated that no nation can prosper in isolation from the global community and emphasized the need for cooperation over isolation.

Shettima made these remarks during a meeting with WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. He argued that migration is a crucial driver of development, innovation, and economic growth, highlighting that immigrants have historically contributed to nation-building.

He cited a Pew Research Centre analysis indicating that 67% of Nigerian-born Black immigrants aged 25 and above in the United States hold at least a bachelor’s degree, the highest among major Black immigrant groups. Shettima commended Okonjo-Iweala for her leadership at the WTO and encouraged her to continue her contributions to global development.

Okonjo-Iweala is the first woman and first African to lead the WTO, having begun her second four-year term in September 2025.